Bottle carrier



Jan. -27, 1953 R.:w. STEVENSON 2,626,725

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Oct. 11, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l 2 NVENTOR- F RALPH W. STEVENSON Jan. 27, 1953 R. w. STEVENSON BOTTLE CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1948 vl llllli.

\NVENTOR RALPH W. 5'revewsou y4QmflM% Y% TO RN Y5 Jan. 27, 1953 R. w. STEVENSON BOTTLE CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001;. 11, 1948 my W8 I HWi lNvEM'ron RALPH W. Sweveuson fa WM%%K7% A??? Patented Jan. 27, 1953 BOTTLE CARRIER Ralph W. Stevenson, Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

- signer, by mesne assignments, to Metal Carrier Corporation, Grand Rapids, Mich a corporation of Michigan Application Octoberll, 1948, Serial No.53,773

Claims. 1

My invention relates to-an improvedbottle carrier adapted to hold a plurality ot-bottles for transportation and storage.

In industries-such as the soft drinkindustry, where bottles are transported and stored-it has heretofore been the common practicetohan'dle the bottles in wooden carriers each of which defines a plurality of bottle-receiving compartments. This practice has developed because such carriers have to datedemonstrated ability to withstand the shocks and blows incident to hand-ling superior to the'ability of other practical carriers.

Despite this superior ability, wooden conta ners are bulky and heavy and are relatively easily damaged inuse. Moreover, the wood absorbs moisture, syrups,.'and like substances to which the carriers are exposed and can be cleaned only with difficulty. As a consequence-the'weight of the carriers is further increased andthey present an unsightly and unsanitary appearance that detracts from the sales of the-bottles they contain. These difliculties, together with the tendency of Wooden carriers to damage clothing when handled, have'prevented the use of such carriers-in homes and have rendered more difficulttheir use commercially.

Efforts to provide a practical metal bottle'carrier have heretofore failed, either by reason of the inability of the metal to withstand-the blows and shocks incident'to handling, or by reason of the inability of the carrier to protect the-bottles from breakage under these shocks and blows.

In accordance with the present invention an improved bottle carrier which can be made of light weight metal,*-such -as aluminumalloy, is pro- Vided. This carrier is lighter in weight and less bulky than conventional wooden bottlecarriers and efficientlyprotects the bottles against damage resulting from blows and shocks. 'Moreover, the carrier itself is highly resistant to blows and shocks and has demonstrated ability to handle a considerably greater number of blows than the carriers heretofore used. All" this is accomplished in an attractive carrier that is "readily washed and presents a clean, sanitary appearance and is suitable 'for use in storing'bottles.

It is therefore a generalobjectlofthe present invention to provide an improved bottle carrier.

More specifically it.is an'object of thepresent invention to provide an improved bottle scarrier capable of being constructed of light'metal, such as aluminum, and presenting an attractive structure which is readily cleaned.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide an'improved bottlecarrier capable of retaining :a plurality .of bottles and .protecting zthe same from damage during handling.

Another object of the present :invention.-is to provide an improved bottle carrier capable ;of withstanding repeated blows and shocks without damage.

Yet another .obj ect of :the present invention .fis to provide an improved bottle carrierrsuitableior transportingcand storing ..a' plurality of o -bottles as a unit.

The novel features which I believejtmbe characteristic :of' my invention areset iorth with'rparticularity in the appended claims. My: invention itself, :both as to its organization and :mode of operation, together "with iurther obiects and .advantagesthereof, may bestbe understood bYreference to the following description'takenin'con nection with the "accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view inperspective-of a 100121716303?- rier. constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

:Figure 2 is a fragmentary-side elevational view of a paircof bottle carriers like that ofv'Figure 1 stacked on top of each-other;

Figures 3 and 44 are cross-sectional 'views through axes 33--and 4-'-4, Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary broken away view of a portion -of the upper edge of the wall ofthe carrierof Figure l-showing thereinforcing rod providedfor-the same;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through axis *6--6, Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary'top plan view of the bottle carrier of Figure 1; and,

, Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged view like Figure 4' butwith the spacings betweenthe struts and the wall andthe-separators exaggerated to show' more clearly-the construction thereof.

Referring now to-Figu-res land 7, the-"bottle carrier comprises a sheetmetal base or bottom i0 surrounded by .bottle-retaining'side and :end walls I and 2 to'definea basket. 'A p'luralityof separators l'i "extend lengthwise of the carrier 'to define a plurality ,ofbottle-receiv'ing rows. "These rowsare' broken up into a series of bottle-retainingcompartments by the transvers members defined by struts i6 andZl and sleeves-'22.

The separators H are preferably of thin light sheet metal, such as an aluminum alloy. ,A plurality of longitudinal indentations I1 11., Figure 3, extend along each separator toincrease the rigidityof the same. Therolled-upper edgesoi 3 separators I! are designated by reference numeral 20.

Each separator is swingingly attached to the bottom I l] by the hinge defined by rod l9 and the cooperating segmental rib portions l5 of the base I and hook portions I8 of the separator. As best seen in Figure 4, the portions I of the base ID are formed by drawing the base I0 upwardly in upstanding segmental ribs relative to the general level of the base and capable of receiving rods l9. The hook portions I8 of the separators I! are formed by bending over the lower edges of these separators about the rods I9.

Swinging movements of the separators I! about the hinges defined by rods I9 are opposed by struts 2| and the resilient sleeves 22. The former are loosely received in openings I a, Figure 8, in the side walls I and are anchored relative thereto by the headed portions 2Ia which bottom against the outside faces of the opposite side walls I. Thus each side wall restrains the struts against movement in one direction and together they prevent movements in either direction. The struts 2| are received in the aligned strut-receiving apertures or openings llb, Figures 4 and 8, formed in the separators l1 adjacent their upper edges. Each of these openings is somewhat larger in size than the strut to provide a relatively loose fit permitting limited swinging movements of the separators without interference.

Resilient sleeves 22 of rubber or rubber-like material surround each strut 2| in the region between each pair of adjacent separators and between each end separator and the side walls I. These sleeves fit loosely about the struts 2| and bottom against the adjoining separators I! or side wall I as the case may be.

The sleeves 22 perform the dual function of forming resilient members against which the bottles strike when blows are struck in the direction of orientation of the separators I1 and of forming resiliently yieldable elements urging the separators II to the upright position. When blows or shocks are imparted to the carrier in the direction of orientation of the struts, the separators I! are thus permitted resiliently to yield and take up the impact otherwise transmitted to the bottles.

Auxiliary struts l6 are vertically aligned with strutsZI but are adjacent the lower portions of the carrier. These struts are loosely received in aligned apertures I'Ic formed in the separators I1 and are likewise loosely received in the apertures or openings Ib, Figure 8, formed in the side walls I.

At their upper edges, the side walls I carry a pair of complementary rods 5, Figures 3 and 5. Each of these rods is U-shaped and extends half way about the rectangular shaped upper edge of the walls I and 2. The ends of these rods face each other at the center of the end walls 2 and are received in sleeves "I.

The rods 5 reinforce the walls I and 2 and for that purpose are preferably constructed of steel. The upper edges of these walls are bent over at 3 to encircle these rods and snugly receive the same.

As shown best in Figure 5, the ends of rods 5 are normally in spaced relationship with each other in the sleeves I. This permits the opposite sides Ia and lb, Figure 1, of wall I, to flex relative to each other under the impact of blows without tending to collapse the reinforcing rods 5.

A single reinforcing rod 6, of steel or like ma- 4 terial, extends about the lower edge of walls I and 2. This rod is snugly received by the turned over lower edge of the walls as indicated at 4, Figure 8.

The lower edge of the walls I and 2 is further reinforced by the upstanding skirt lI formed on bottom Ill. As indicated in the figures, this skirt extends above the level of openings I2 and is crimped over about the same, thus securely retaining the bottom and the walls relative to each other.

The walls I and 2 are formed of a single sheet of light metal, such as aluminum alloy, extending entirely around the carrier. At the center of one end wall 2, where the two ends meet, they are overlapped as shown in Figure 6. An opening is formed in this overlapped section and portion 2a of the wall is crimped over the portion 212 to secure the same in position.

Hand openings are provided in the opposed end walls 2 as shown in figures 1 and 3. As best seen in the latter view, the wall 2 is bent outwardly at 8 to define these openings and a tubular insert 9 placed therein and crimped over at ta to be anchored in position.

The separators I1 have triangular cut-out portions crimped over at lid to define space for the fingers of a person handling the carrier.

The bottom I0 is formed of relatively thin sheet metal, such as aluminum alloy, and is formed with a plurality of apertures or openings Illa having crimped over rims l4. One aperture is centrally disposed in each bottle-receiving compartment as shown in Figure 7. The portions of the bottom adjacent each rim I4 are embossed upwardly as shown at Figure 2 to define an annular portion rising above the general plane of the bottom Ill.

The rims I4 are adapted to overlay only the outer peripheries of the bottle caps C when a plurality of carriers are stacked as shown in Figure 2. This causes each carrier to seat on the bottles of the next lower carrier and imparts stability to the stack so formed. That is, any forces tending to shift one carrier relative to another are opposed by the seating engagement of the adjacent carriers and bottles.

The embossed portion I3 adjacent each rim l4 defines a dome to be received in the cupped base of the bottle as shown in the broken away portion of Figure 2 where a bottle B is shown in phantom as received over the dome. This centers each bottle in its compartment under normal conditions and positions it in registry with the corresponding bottle of the next higher carrier, thereby causing the cap of each bottle to register with the seat defined by the corresponding rim l4 of the next higher carrier.

The bottom It may be of relatively thin flexible construction since it is reinforced by the struts l6 and 2i and by the separators I1. These elements cooperatively define a truss which is connected to the bottom II) by the rods I3 and which reinforces the bottom I0 to take up the stress that would otherwise flex the bottom.

' Extensive tests and actual operation have demonstrated that the bottle carrier of the present invention is capable of withstanding a greater number of blows than the carriers heretofore available and, in addition, protects the bottles against damage. In one test, for example, this carrier withstood 1500 blows of the same intensity that demolished a good quality existing carrier at blows.

In addition to the functions described above the struts I 6 act to'support the bottom portions of the bottles in adjacent compartments-and, moreover, act toretain the bottles inthe'carrier when the same is tilted.

In the appended claims I have used the term bottoming against said separators to define the relationship between the'sle'eves 22 and the separators 'll whereby'the former abut'the latter to oppose swinging m'ovements the'r'eof;

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and alter native 'constructionsm'ay be used without departing 'from the spirit and's'cope thereon: I therefore intend by the 'appen'ded'claims to cover all such 'rnodificationsand alternative constructions as fall within the true spirit and scope of "my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent or th'e'UnitedStates is:

1. In a bottle carrier of the type having a bottom and a bottleretaining wall, a plurality of separators disposed in said carrier to define a plurality ofbottle receiving rows, said separators each being cut short of-the ends of said carrier and supported from the bottom thereof for swinging movements about axes parallel to the direction of orientation of said separators, said separators having aligned strut-receiving openings adiacent their upper edges, struts loosely received in said openings, said struts being oriented in direction substantially traris'verseto said separators to define a plurality of bottle-receiving compartments, and resilient elements surrounding each of said struts in the re ions between adjacent separators and between the outermost separators and said wall and bottoming against said separators and said wall.

2. In a bottle carrier of the type having a bottom surrounded by a wall to define a bottle retaining basket, the improvement which comprises a plurality of separators disposed in said basket to define aplurality of bottle-receiving rows, the lower edges of the separators being hingedly secured to the bottom for swinging movement about axes parallel to the direction of the separators, said separators having aligned strut-receiving openings adjacent their upper edges, struts loosely received in said openings, said struts being oriented in direction substantially transverse to said separators to define a plurality of bottle-receiving compartments, and resilient elements surrounding each of said struts in the regions between the adjacent separators and between the'outermost separators and said wall and bottoming against said separators and said wall.

3. A bottle carrier of the type having a bottom and a peripheral bottle-retaining wall, the improvement which comprises a plurality of separators disposed in said basket to define a plurality of bottle-receiving rows, hinge means adapted to support each of said separators from the bottom of said carrier for swinging movements about an axis parallel to the orientation of said separators, said separators having aligned strut-receiving openings adjacent said bottom and adjacent their upper edges, struts loosely received in said openings and extending across said basket in direction substantially transverse to the orientation of said separators to define a plurality of bottlereceiving compartments, and resilient elements each surrounding one of the struts in said last mentioned openings in the region between adjacent separators and between the outermost separators and the retaining "wall, the elements bottomin against the separators and the retaining wall.

4. A bottle carrier ofthe type having a bottom anddefining abottle-retaining basketfthe improvement which comprisesa plurality ofseparators disposed in said'basket todefine a plurality of bottle-receiving rows, hinge means adapted to support each ofsaid separators-from the bottom of saidc'arrie'r for swinging movements about an axis parallel to the orientation or said separators, said separators having aligned strut-receiving openings near their upper edges, struts loosely-re ceived in said openings and extendingacross the basket in direction substantially transverse to the orientation of said separators to define a plurality of bottle-receiving compartments, and 're'sil-ier'it elementseach surrounding one of saidstruts in the region between adjacent separators and between-the outermost separators and the sidewall of the bottle-retaining basket, the elements bottoming against theseparators andthe side wall.

5. In a bottle carrier of the type having a bottom and edge wall defining a bottle-retaining basket, the improvement which comprises a plurality of separators disposed in said basket'to define a plurality of bottl'e rec'eiving rows, .the lower edges of the separators being hingedly secured to the bottom for swinging movements about an axis parallel tothe orientation of said separators, and resilient elements bottoming against the separators and against the outermost separators and the edge wall yieldably supporting the separators in erect position for swinging movements under the impact of said bottles when 'said carrier is struck.

6. In a bottle carrierof the type'having-elements including a bottom defining a bottle retaining basket, a plurality of separators extending in one direction across said basket to define a plurality of bottle-receiving rows, hinge means adapted to support each of said separators from the bottom of said carrier for swinging movements about an axis parallel to the orientation of said separators, and a plurality of spacers extending across said basket in direction substantially transverse to the orientation of said separators, thereby defining bottle-receiving compartments, said spacers carrying compressible, resilient elements supporting said separators for yielding movements in the direction of said spacers to permit movements of said spacers under the impact of the bottles when said carrier is struck.

7. In a bottle carrier of the type having bottom and wall elements defining a bottle retaining basket, a plurality of separators extending in one direction across said basket to define a plurality of bottle-receiving rows, the lower edges of the separators being hingedly secured to the bottom for swinging movements about an axis parallel to the orientation of said separators, said separators having a plurality of aligned strut-receiving apertures, struts in the apertures extending across said basket in direction substantially transverse to the orientation of said separators, and resilient elements each surrounding one of said struts in the region between adjaccnt separators and bottoming against said separators and against the outermost separators and the wall.

' 8. In a bottle carrier for bottles having caps and cupped bases, a bottom, a wall surrounding said bottom to define a bottle retaining basket, a plurality of separators hingedly attached to said bottom and extending across said basket to define a plurality of bottle retaining rows, said separators having aligned strut-receiving openings near their upper edges, struts anchored to said wall and received loosely in said openings and in substantially transverse orientation relative to said separators to define bottle-receiving compartments, resilient sleeves each surrounding one of said struts in the region between adjacent separators and bottoming against said separators, said bottom having a plurality of apertures, one for each of said compartments and adapted partially to fit over the caps of the bottles of a next lower carrier, the marginal portions of said apertures being embossed upwardly to define upraised annular portions to be received in the cupped bases of said bottles to retain the same in said carrier.

9. A bottle carrier having a bottom member with upturned edge portions, a side wall defining member received on said edge portions and afiixecl thereto by crimped-over draw-holes, reinforcing rods surrounding the lower and upper portions of said wall defining member, said member being Wrapped about said rods to secure the same thereto, aligned separators hingedly secured to said bottom member, and means yieldably supporting said separators in an upright position.

10. In combination, a bottle-retaining basket defined by a relatively flexible bottom surrounded by a bottle-retaining wall, a plurality of separators extending longitudinally of the basket and each anchored along its length to the bottom thereof by hinge means permitting said separators to swing about longitudinal axes, and a plurality of resilient elements extending cross-wise of the separators to define bottle pockets in conjunction therewith, the elements bottoming against the separators and the outermost separators and the wall to sustain the separators in upright position and define a bottom-reinforcing truss.

RALPH W. STEVENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 110,991 Miller Jan. 17, 1871 311,951 Bright Feb. 10, 1885 393,305 Hillebrand Nov. 20, 1888 537,844 Moore et al Apr. 23, 1895 593,024 Kinsey Nov. 2, 1897 872,998 Kruse Dec. 3, 1907 942,966 Kruse Dec. 14, 1909 960,833 Crum June 7, 1910 988,062 Armstrong et a1. Mar. 28, 1911 992,006. Kubersky et al May 9, 1911 1,157,045 Risher Oct. 19, 1915 1,328,748 Maurer Jan. 20, 1920 1,507,133 Loeble Sept. 2, 1924 2,034,205 Quirk et al Mar. 17, 1936 2,119,773 Buckner June 7, 1938 2,334,198 Hutchings Nov. 16, 1943 2,404,065 Hill July 16, 1946 2,513,693 Turbyfill July 4, 1950 2,542,640 Dixon Feb. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,705 Great Britain 1903 809,187 France Dec. 3, 1936 

